February 2015

Radioactive Waste 115 - A Finnish Company Is Working On A Spent Nuclear Fuel Repository for Finland

         One of the biggest problems with nuclear power is disposing of the spent nuclear fuel rods. All of the cooing pools in all the U.S. reactors are filling rapidly and many will be full in a few years. There is a movement for temporary dry cask storage onsite at the nuclear power stations but this will require a massive investment. In addition the current design of dry casks needs to be improved. The U.S.

Nuclear Reactors 211 - Senator Lamar Alexander Gives Speech In Support of Nuclear Energy at the Nuclear Energy Insititute

         The future of the nuclear industry in the United States is a topic of considerable debate. On one hand, cheap natural gas is threatening the economic viability of nuclear power. On the other hand, some supporters are hailing the construction of the first new U.S. nuclear power reactors as a sign of a "nuclear renaissance."

Nuclear Reactors 210 - Delays and Cost Overruns Plague New Reactor Construction at Vogtle Electric Generating Plant in Georgia

         In 2006, Southern Nuclear applied for an Early Site Permit for the construction of two new power reactors at the Vogtle power plant in Georgia to join the two existing reactors. In 2008, Southern Nuclear applied for a Combined Construction and Operating License for the two new reactors. Shortly thereafter, the Georgia Power Company (GP) signed a contract with Westinghouse to build two AP1000 reactors on the Vogtle site.

Nuclear Reactors 209 - The United States Rejects New International Nuclear Safety Standards

         I have written numerous posts about nuclear safety on the blog. One point that I keep coming back to is the idea governments are failing in their duties to protect their citizens because of what is called regulatory capture. This occurs when the industry being regulated exerts political pressure to avoid being held accountable for violating regulations. But in order for this to happen, there has to be regulation in the first place.

Nuclear Reactors 208 - Nuclear Power Is No Longer Competitive in the United States

         I have mentioned in past blogs that nuclear power is being challenged from several directions. Cheap and abundant natural gas has made existing nuclear power less competitive and reduced demand for new nuclear power.. Renewables are getting cheaper and better every day. The nuclear industry has resorted to asking for price guarantees and claiming that they are a low-carbon source of electricity.

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